Problem in underground conductors led to Columbia power outage

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Water and Light continues to work on the problem that left more than 900 customers in central and downtown Columbia without power Thursday afternoon.

Spokesman Brian Adkisson said in an email that a problem in underground electric conductors caused the outage, which lasted about two hours starting at 4:25 p.m. The problem has been isolated to a section of conductors between the University of Missouri Power Plant and Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Adkisson said.

"City staff are still working to determine the exact location of the faulty conductor and cause," Adkisson wrote.

The outage affected 917 customers and led emergency dispatchers to send out public alerts about downtown traffic lights going dark.